Safety control



Oct. 11, 1949. A. A. LANE 2,484,301

SAFETY CONTROL APPARATUS FOR GAS BURNERS Filed March 6, 1946 WAE'A II l l l2 Inventor ABBOT A. LANE Attorneys Patented Qct. 11,.

SAFETY CONTROL APPARATUS FOR GAS BURNE Abbot A. Lane, Glen Ridge, N. J.

Application March 6, 1946, Serial No. 652,450

.7 Claims. (Cl. 158117.1)

The present invention relates to apparatus for controlling burners, such as those used in ordinary household stoves. The invention provides burner control mechanism of pronounced simplicity, yet which insures against dangers of explosion or asphyxiation by providing for automatic cut off of gas when no flame is present at the burner.

A principal object of the invention is to provide such a burner control having means for closing a valve in the gas line, which means is responsive to the pressure of the inlet gas, more particularly, to the pressure of gas being supplied to the burner. Ancillary to this objective, it is a purpose of the invention to provide inlet pressure responsive means for controlling such a valve, which may be rendered inoperative or neutralized by the effect of an additional control agency responsive to the presence of a flame at the burner.

As a part of the previously mentioned objects, I have provided a control valve in the inlet line from the gas main to the burner, which has an operating arm or element thereon responsive to forces applied in different directions. When this arm is moved in one direction the control valve is closed, and in my invention, a pressure responsive bellows or diaphragm is provided expanded by gas at inlet pressure which tends to force the arm in the direction to close the control valve.

The inlet pressure responsive member referred to is an agency continuously present tending to close the control valve and cut oil gas as abnormal conditions occur or persist at the burner. The

operating arm is also provided with means for applying force in another or opposite direction tending to open the valve, the latter means being actuated by the existence of a normal condition at the burner, i. e., with the gas on and with a flame present to consume the gas. The last-named means may also include a pressure responsive bellows or diaphragm connected with the arm: and responsive to the action of any well known fluid under pressure which expands by the heat of the flame at the burner to resist or counteract the diaphragm or bellows actuated by pressure of the inlet gas,.so that the first-named means is made inoperative 'as far as closing the valve is concerned. Stated otherwise, it may be said that the efiect of the first pressure responsive member isneutralized or balanced to the point that the valve remains open, the latter condition being the normal condition of the valve.

It will be understood that the agencies referred to above are automatic, and that I have provided 2 the usual inlet valve between the gas main and the burner which is operated by th housewife to turn the gas on and oil. as desired. The control valve referred to is in the inlet line between the gas main and the burner, and the regular manually operated inlet valve is in this line between the control valve and the gas main. Thus the control mechanisms referred to act when the regular inlet valve is turned on, and they insure that unconsumed gas is not permitted to flow from the burner due to carelessness, or in the event that the flame is in some manner extinguished as by a draft or by overflow of liquids on the stove.

While it will be understood that my invention may take various forms, and its purposes are susceptible to accomplishment by various arrangements of parts, I have diagrammatically illustrated one manner in which the invention may be carried out in the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic top plan view of an ordinary gas burner showing the manner in which the invention is associated therewith, the various valve parts being illustrated in section to indicate the path of fluid therethrough. The drawings are representative and illustrative only, and various standard valves and fittings may be properly associated to accomplish the purposes of the invention.

An ordinary gasburner is shown at B, same being fed with gas from the regular gas main or pipe M, which pipe may be that used to service various gas-consuming devices in a house or building. The burner is connected with the gas main through a branch gas line L, said line having therein in the order named from the main to the burner, an inlet valve I and a control valve C. '1 he usual mixing head H may be provided in the inlet line between the control valve and the burner, and if desired, the usual pilot light P may be employed, although this device forms no necessary part of the present invention.

I have shown the inlet valve I and the control valveC carried in the same housing l0, although they can be separately positioned in the inlet line, if desired. The housing III has an outer passage [2 therein which leads to the valve member which is designated 14 and'as being of the plug type, this valve member having a port I6 therethroug'h which by its position opens communication between the passage l2 and a passage it within the body of the housing. The passage l8 leads to an appropriate valve seat 20 which maybe closed or opened by a control valve member 22, the latter being carried on an operating arm 24 which is pivoted within the housing at at 26. The portion of the arm 24 which extends beyond the housing is of relatively great length as compared with that portion of the arm between its pivot and the valve member. Where the arm 24 passes through the wall of the housing, a sealing arrangement such as a bellows.28 is provided so that movements of the arm may be accommodated without venting gas from the interior of the housing.

The housing may also have another inlet passage 30 separated from a further passage 32 by another portion of the valve member I4. The inlet passage. 30 may connect with the gas line L beyond the inlet valve, as shown by the branch connection 34, or it might be connected with the gas main M adjacent the point where the line L connects thereto. The valve plug l4 has a second passage 38 therethrough which is positioned to open communication between passages 30 and 32 simultaneously with the opening of communication between passages l2 and I8 by the valve port I6, so that gas may flow simultaneously to the burner and to the pressure responsive means tending to close the valve 22 when abnormal conditions exist at the burner. The passage 32 from the housing connects with a branch line or pipe 40 which leads to a diaphragm, bellows, or like member 42, the expansion or contraction of which exerts forces on the outer end of the arm 24 through a connection 44. Where the pipe 40 joins the pressure responsive member 42, a needle valve device of conventional form :is provided, same being designated as 48. This device has a valve member which can be regulated by a handle 50 from and toward its seat to regulate the flow of gas from the pipe 40 to the bellows 42. By this regulation, the time required for the building up of pressure in the bellows 42 to close the valve 22 can be adjusted.

The inlet valve or valves may be constructed in any suitable manner to provide for relief of gas from the bellows 42 when it is not functioning, and the valve plug l4 may be suitably formed for this purpose as with a port 52 leading at rightangles from the port 38, to the outer'wall of the plug at only one side thereof, which port can be turned into registry with the passage 32 in the housing when the plug valve is turned to close against flow of gas to the control valve. An appropriate opening may be provided in the side wall of the housing (not shown) so that passages 52 and 38 serve to vent the gas from the bellows 42 when the inlet valve I is closed, thus permitting the bellows to contract. In this connection, a by-pass line 60 having back pressure valve 62 therein is provided between the pipe 40 and the bellows 42 and extending around the seat portion of the needle valve 48 previously mentioned, so that when the valve I is turned to such position as to relieve gas from the bellows 42, the gas will flowaround the needle valve without being retarded thereby, the back pressure valve 62 being of a typewhich permits free flow of'gas from the bellows, but which prevents flow of gas from line 40 in the direction toward the bellows 42. It will be understood that while I have shown the relief valve and the inlet valve, as being part of an integral unit, this need not necessarily be the case, as these valves may be separately mounted.

In order to render inoperative or to neutralize the efiect of the bellows 42, suitable means is provided responsive to the presence of flame at the burner. In the drawings, I have shown a chamher or diaphragm member 64 located adjacent to burner, and a pipe 68 returning therefrom to a diaphragm or bellows 68, this bellows also being connected as at 44 to the-outer end of the valve operating arm 24. The member 64, pipe 66, and diaphragm 68 constitute a closed chamber filled with any suitable fluid which will expand and contract in volume in response to heat, so that when the burner B is lighted, the bellows 68 expands thus resisting movement of the arm 24 under the. influence of the bellows 42. The pressure responsive members and valve operating mechanisms just described will be so adjusted that when a flame is present at the burner, the effect of the bellows 68 will just be suflicient to counteract the effect of bellows 42, and the valve arm 24 will be retained in its neutral position as shown, with the valve member 22 raised from its seat. Thus continuing use of the burner may be had.

However, it will be apparent that if the gas is turned on at the inlet valve I and no flame is applied to the burner, either by the pilot light of by a match, the gas pressure in the bellows 42 will close the control valve C for the bellows 68 will then be contracted. Thereafter the housewife will be unable to light the burner until she first turns the valve I to its off position, thus positively closing the supply of gas to the burner and at the same time venting the gas from the bellows 42. Thereafter, she may again open the inlet valve, and proceed to light the burner. If a flame is present at the burner, ignited by the pilot P or by a match, it will have immediate effect on the temperature responsive system 64 and will cause bellows 68 to make inoperative or counteract the effect of bellows 42 and gas will continue to flow to the burner. If at any time during use, the flame at the burner is extinguished, the diaphragm or bellows 42 will immediately take charge to close the control valve.

It will be observed that I have provided an arrangement of pronounced simplicity and great safety. Various changes may be made in the arrangement shown without departing from the purposes or scope of the invention. For example, the means responsive to a flame at the burner may be a heat responsive metal rod or similar device, and various mechanical arrangements may be provided to connect such a device to the valve.

operating arm 24. Furthermore, mechanical expedients other than the arm 24 may be adopted to operate the control valve, and the manner of connecting the bellows members to this arm or its equivalent may be altered.

I claim:

1. Control mechanism for a burner comprising a, gasinlet line leading from the gas main to the burner, a control valve in said line and means for closing said control valve in the absence of a flame at the burner, said means comprising a second line leading from the gas main and having a delayed action gas pressure responsive member therein, said member and control valve being adjusted to close said valve under influence of gas pressure from the main in the absence of a flame at the burner, manually operable means for closing said gas inlet line and for venting gas from said pressure responsive member, and means responsive to the presence of a flame at the burner for rendering said first-named means ineffective when a flame is present at the burner.

2. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second line is provided with a regulating valve to govern the time required for pressure to build up in said pressure responsive member to close said control valve.

3. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second line is provided with a regulating valve to govern the time required for pressure to build up by forward flow into said pressure responsive member, with means to later vent gas by backward flow of gas from said member, and

inlet valve and having a gas pressure responsive member therein, said member and control valve being adjusted to close said control valve under influence of gas pressure from the main, means for rendering said flrst named means inoperative when a flame is present at the burner, an adjustable valve in said second line to govern the time required for building up suflicient gas pressure in said member to close said control valve, means included in said inlet valve to vent gas pressure from said member when said inlet valve is closed, and a by-pass in said second line having a one-way valve therein which permits return flow of gas around said adjustable valve when gas is being vented from said member.

5. Control mechanism for a burner, comprising a gas inlet line leading from the gas main to the burner, an automatic control valve in said line, a manually operable shut-off valve in said line between said main and said control valve, means for closing said control valve comprising a gas pressure responsive member also connected with the gas main by an auxiliary line, said member being adjusted so as to close said control valve under the influence of pressure of gas from the main, means in said auxiliary line to retard the flow of gas therethrough to said member to delay the full application of gas pressure to said member when said shut-oil valve is opened, and means responsive to the presence of a flame at the burner for rendering said first-named means ineffective when and as long as a flame is present at the burner, whereby said control valve remains open when a flame is present at the burner and is automatically closed in the absence of a flame at the burner.

6. Control mechanism for a burner comprising a, gas inlet line leading from the gas main to the burner, a manually operable shut-on valve in said line, an automatic control valve in said line beyond said shut-oil valve having an operating arm movable in one direction to close said valve and in another direction to open said valve, means comprising a gas pressure responsive member connected with said arm to exert force thereon to move it in the direction to close said valve in communication with the gas main through an auxiliary line, an adjustable valve in said auxiliary line to retard the flow of gas therethrough to delay the full application of gas pressure to said member when said shut-off valve is opened,- and means connected with said arm to move it in the direction to open said valve, said last-named means being responsive to the presence of a flame at the burner to exert force on said arm to open said valve, said valve and said first-named means being adjusted so that the force generated by said last-named means neutralizes that of said first-named means to maintain said valve in open position when a flame is present at the burner.

7. Controlmechanism for a burner comprising a gas inlet line leading from the gas main to the burner, a gas inlet valve in said line having a pair of passages therethrough, one of said passages being adapted to deliver gas to the burner, a control valve in said line between said inlet valve and the burner, means for closing said control valve comprising a gas pressure responsive member also connected through an auxiliary line with the gas main through the other of said passages in said inlet valve, said member being adjusted to close said control valve under the influence of gas pressure from the main when said inlet valve opens communication between the gas main and said auxiliary line, means in said auxiliary line to retard the flow of gas therethrough to said member to delay the full application of gas pressure to said member, and means responsive to the presence of a flame at the burner for rendering said first-named means ineffective when a flame is present at the burner, whereby when said inlet valve opens communication between the gas main and said auxiliary line, said control valve remains open when a flame is present at the burner and is automatically closed in the absence of a flame at the burner, said inlet valve having an exhaust passage arranged therein to vent gas from said pressure responsive member when said inlet valve is adjusted to discontinue delivery of gas to said burner.

ABBOT A. LANE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,820,510 Tuck Aug. 25, 1931 2,185,423 Andersen Jan. 2, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 498,895 Germany May 28, 1930 

